Infrared imaging system
First Claim
1. An infrared imaging system comprising:
- a light source section for emitting supercontinuum light including a wavelength in a near-infrared region as irradiation light to be emitted to a predetermined illumination area, said light source section including a seed light source for emitting laser light and an optical fiber for generating the supercontinuum light in response to the input of the laser light;
an image pickup section for capturing light having arrived from the predetermined illumination area, said light including a reflected component of the irradiation light, as light to be detected, and generating image data in accordance with information about the captured light to be detected;
wavelength selecting means including at least one of first wavelength selecting means for selectively limiting a wavelength region of the irradiation light and second wavelength selecting means for selectively limiting a wavelength region of the light to be detected entering said image pickup section;
a display section for displaying the image data generated by said image pickup section; and
a processing section determining, in accordance with optical intensity information about the light to be detected in an absorption wavelength region of an object to be detected included in the image data, whether the object to be detected exists or not in the predetermined illumination region.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a long-life, low-power consumption infrared imaging system having a structure for realizing with a high reliability both the taking of an image of its surrounding environments and the detection of objects. The infrared imaging system comprises a light source section, an image pickup section, a processing section, and a monitor. For emitting SC light including a wavelength component in a near-infrared wavelength band as irradiation light, the light source section includes a seed light source emitting laser light, an optical fiber generating the SC light in response to the input of the laser light, and wavelength selecting means. The wavelength selecting means selectively limits the wavelength region of the irradiation light in accordance with imaging modes. In the mode for taking an image of a surrounding environment, the wavelength selecting means limits the irradiation light wavelength to a wavelength band excluding an absorption wavelength band of moisture and the like in the air. In the mode for detecting an object such as a frozen part on the road surface, on the other hand, the wavelength selecting means limits the irradiation light wavelength to an absorption wavelength band of water or ice.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An infrared imaging system comprising:
-
a light source section for emitting supercontinuum light including a wavelength in a near-infrared region as irradiation light to be emitted to a predetermined illumination area, said light source section including a seed light source for emitting laser light and an optical fiber for generating the supercontinuum light in response to the input of the laser light; an image pickup section for capturing light having arrived from the predetermined illumination area, said light including a reflected component of the irradiation light, as light to be detected, and generating image data in accordance with information about the captured light to be detected; wavelength selecting means including at least one of first wavelength selecting means for selectively limiting a wavelength region of the irradiation light and second wavelength selecting means for selectively limiting a wavelength region of the light to be detected entering said image pickup section; a display section for displaying the image data generated by said image pickup section; and a processing section determining, in accordance with optical intensity information about the light to be detected in an absorption wavelength region of an object to be detected included in the image data, whether the object to be detected exists or not in the predetermined illumination region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification